whistle you used to blow out in the schoolyard? You picked on me all the fucking time. Say goodbye old woman. You are about to die.”
“Give it your best shot,” Grace challenged. “We’ll see if your quick-change is faster than my gun. Personally, I think I have the upper hand.”
Without giving the shifter any further opportunity, she fired twice, straight into Cindy’s heart.
“You bitch!” Cindy clutched her chest and melted into animal form. Weak chucking sounds begged for help as her blood pooled around her dying carcass.
For no other reason than pure spite, Ms. Langston pulled a shrilly whistle out from around her neck and blew it as loud as possible, making it the last sound little Cindy Daniels would ever hear.
And then there were two.
Cindy’s phone began to chime. Grace was surprised the phone received a signal this far within the mine. Her own phone barely worked up here in the hills. She made a mental note to check out who Cindy’s provider was. Another good thing to come from this day.
Grace picked up the phone and saw that Derek was calling. She danced a happy jig, ignored his call, and made one of her own.
• • •
DEREK WAS NIBBLING on an ear of corn when Cade’s cell phone went off. A slow smile crossed the old guy’s face and a set of knowing eyes locked onto his.
As soon as he pocketed his phone, Cade announced, “Grace is having car trouble. Looks like I have to go give her a hand.”
“Just make sure you’re back in time for the fireworks, Dad,” Jessie called out. “You promised the boys.”
Cade chuckled and stepped lightly towards the road. “This is nothing but a minor inconvenience. The problem will be solved in no time.”
Derek watched Cade leave. Jessie’s father knew something. Cindy was alone with the cubs at the mine, but she hadn’t checked in. Something had to have gone horribly wrong. Over and over he tried her cell. At first, the phone would ring. Now the only response he received was a robotic voice informing him that the caller he was trying to reach was currently unavailable.
Cindy’s phone had been turned off.
“Ladies,” Derek said politely. “I have an errand I need to run. I’ll be back soon.” He stood and quickly followed Cade into the darkness.
The women watched the men leave.
A frown crossed Sally’s face. “Do you think it’s my cooking?”
Jessie wiped a glob of barbeque sauce off her chin and grabbed another rib. “Hell no!”
• • •
THE SCENT OF death laced the surrounding air. The golden brown cat approached the entrance to the mine with caution.
Grace walked out of the darkness and held up the feisty cub. Cade’s razor sharp hunting knife was pressed to its neck. “Take a good look, Derek. We wanted you to see how badly you failed before you died.”
Swish! An arrow plunged into the side of the beast, then another, and then one more.
With each beat of his heart, Derek felt his blood pump out of his body. He tried desperately to shift back to his human form, but he didn’t have the strength. Failure was not an option. He couldn’t die now when they were so close to success. He wanted to cry out, but he refused to give his hunters the satisfaction.
As his world turned black, he saw Cade Marcus standing over him holding a compound bow.
• • •
No quarter had been given to either Cindy or Derek. The sentence passed down by the Guardianship had been carried out with the promised swift precision.
Gracie removed the bow from Cade’s tight grip. “Jessie and the boys are safe now,” she cooed.
Cade wanted to feel remorse, but the shifters had grown too embolden. Marigold would be the last one to be taken care of. Lizzy’s mother had that covered. As a new employee at the nursing home, Mable was stuck working the Fourth of July night shift. If all went well, she planned on handing in her resignation on the fifth. One night on the job was all she needed. Marigold’s death would be
“Give it your best shot,” Grace challenged. “We’ll see if your quick-change is faster than my gun. Personally, I think I have the upper hand.”
Without giving the shifter any further opportunity, she fired twice, straight into Cindy’s heart.
“You bitch!” Cindy clutched her chest and melted into animal form. Weak chucking sounds begged for help as her blood pooled around her dying carcass.
For no other reason than pure spite, Ms. Langston pulled a shrilly whistle out from around her neck and blew it as loud as possible, making it the last sound little Cindy Daniels would ever hear.
And then there were two.
Cindy’s phone began to chime. Grace was surprised the phone received a signal this far within the mine. Her own phone barely worked up here in the hills. She made a mental note to check out who Cindy’s provider was. Another good thing to come from this day.
Grace picked up the phone and saw that Derek was calling. She danced a happy jig, ignored his call, and made one of her own.
• • •
DEREK WAS NIBBLING on an ear of corn when Cade’s cell phone went off. A slow smile crossed the old guy’s face and a set of knowing eyes locked onto his.
As soon as he pocketed his phone, Cade announced, “Grace is having car trouble. Looks like I have to go give her a hand.”
“Just make sure you’re back in time for the fireworks, Dad,” Jessie called out. “You promised the boys.”
Cade chuckled and stepped lightly towards the road. “This is nothing but a minor inconvenience. The problem will be solved in no time.”
Derek watched Cade leave. Jessie’s father knew something. Cindy was alone with the cubs at the mine, but she hadn’t checked in. Something had to have gone horribly wrong. Over and over he tried her cell. At first, the phone would ring. Now the only response he received was a robotic voice informing him that the caller he was trying to reach was currently unavailable.
Cindy’s phone had been turned off.
“Ladies,” Derek said politely. “I have an errand I need to run. I’ll be back soon.” He stood and quickly followed Cade into the darkness.
The women watched the men leave.
A frown crossed Sally’s face. “Do you think it’s my cooking?”
Jessie wiped a glob of barbeque sauce off her chin and grabbed another rib. “Hell no!”
• • •
THE SCENT OF death laced the surrounding air. The golden brown cat approached the entrance to the mine with caution.
Grace walked out of the darkness and held up the feisty cub. Cade’s razor sharp hunting knife was pressed to its neck. “Take a good look, Derek. We wanted you to see how badly you failed before you died.”
Swish! An arrow plunged into the side of the beast, then another, and then one more.
With each beat of his heart, Derek felt his blood pump out of his body. He tried desperately to shift back to his human form, but he didn’t have the strength. Failure was not an option. He couldn’t die now when they were so close to success. He wanted to cry out, but he refused to give his hunters the satisfaction.
As his world turned black, he saw Cade Marcus standing over him holding a compound bow.
• • •
No quarter had been given to either Cindy or Derek. The sentence passed down by the Guardianship had been carried out with the promised swift precision.
Gracie removed the bow from Cade’s tight grip. “Jessie and the boys are safe now,” she cooed.
Cade wanted to feel remorse, but the shifters had grown too embolden. Marigold would be the last one to be taken care of. Lizzy’s mother had that covered. As a new employee at the nursing home, Mable was stuck working the Fourth of July night shift. If all went well, she planned on handing in her resignation on the fifth. One night on the job was all she needed. Marigold’s death would be
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